"Deeper"
Real Change for Real Sinners
by Dane Ortlund
Preparing Your Heart: What Now?
As we reach the conclusion of this book, you may wonder what to take away from all you've read. Each chapter has explored a different facet of spiritual growth—from seeing the real Jesus to understanding our union with him, from embracing God's love to walking in honesty with others, from the role of pain to the practice of spiritual breathing, all empowered by the Holy Spirit. That's a lot to process!
You might be tempted to approach these teachings as a checklist of strategies to implement: "First, I need to work on my view of Jesus, then focus on my union with Christ, then practice honesty..." But in this conclusion, Ortlund wants to simplify everything. The nine chapters of this book aren't sequential steps in growing; they're different facets of the one diamond of growth.
The final, deepest secret to growing in Christ is beautifully simple: look to him. Set your gaze upon him. Abide in him, hour by hour. This isn't just one strategy among many—it's the singular focus that makes all the rest possible.
As you prepare to read this conclusion, consider whether you've been making Christian growth more complicated than it needs to be. Are you trying to implement a long list of strategies, or are you simply learning to fix your eyes on Jesus?
Before You Read
- What has been your biggest takeaway from this book so far? Which chapter or concept has resonated most deeply with you?
- How might focusing on "looking to Jesus" simplify your approach to spiritual growth?
What Now?: The One Thing
This conclusion simplifies the entire message of the book into one foundational principle: look to Jesus. Everything else flows from this singular focus.
One Diamond, Many Facets
The nine chapters of this book are not sequential steps in growing; they are different facets of the one diamond of growth. In order to grow, we need to:
- See who the real Jesus is (chapter 1)
- Collapse into his arms and continue to do so (chapter 2)
- Recognize our union with him (chapter 3)
- Drink down his undeserved love (chapter 4)
- Rest in our full legal exoneration (chapter 5)
- Walk in the light with others (chapter 6)
- Receive pain as God's gentle hand (chapter 7)
- Breathe through Bible reading and prayer (chapter 8)
- Experience heaven through the indwelling Spirit (chapter 9)
But all of these are simply different angles on the same reality: fixing our gaze on Jesus Christ.
Transformation Through the Back Door
As we look to Christ, transformation comes "in the back door." If we try to change simply for change's sake, we can only change our behavior. But if we gaze upon Christ, our hearts are transformed, and true change follows.
Discussion Questions
- How has your understanding of what it means to "grow in Christ" changed as you've read this book?
- Which of the nine facets of growth explored in this book do you most need to focus on right now?
- What practical steps can you take to fix your gaze more consistently on Jesus?
- How might you know if you're focusing too much on your own growth and not enough on Christ himself?
- What do you think it means for transformation to come "through the back door"?
Application
Choose one aspect of Jesus that has particularly struck you from this book (his tenderness, his saving power, his friendship, etc.). Set aside 10-15 minutes each day this week to meditate on this aspect of Christ's character. Find relevant Scripture passages, read them slowly, and simply gaze upon who Jesus is. Don't focus on what you need to do or how you need to change—just look at him. At the end of the week, reflect on how this practice has affected your heart and your behavior.